Robertson should have done more acting - Carny (1980) Discussion

[–] yazoostreet 14 years ago

I don't think Robbie ever felt comfortable with acting. He was offered a lot of roles following the Last Waltz given his seductive voice and easy-on-the-eye looks. He decided to star in Carny as he was directly involved in the film's production, just as he was in the Last Waltz. He's great in this film, but he looks far more comfortable with a guitar slung over his shoulder!

The Carny Soundtrack is 50% Robbie and 50% Alex North. Dr John (Mac Rebennack), plays on a couple of tracks too.

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[–] badponymedicine 12 years ago

Actually, I believe Robbie would have liked to act more. Then again, if you believe Levon's accounts (he was extremely bitter after the breakup of The Band, and Robertson's 'taking over' of the band at the time), Robbie was actually 'jealous' of all the acting gigs Levon was getting. Robbie really isn't that great an actor, though. He tried way too hard and didn't come across as quite believable.

As for the bitterness (Robbie did visit Levon in the hospital just before Levon passed), at the time Robbie 'took over', everyone was having substance abuse issues (Robbie had his own, but apparently not as bad as the rest of the band), and someone needed to pull it together, so Robbie stepped into that role. Addicts have a bad habit of blaming others for the things that happen to them because of their abuses, and Levon was no different.

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[–] TimmyAnn 12 years ago

I thought he was believable. I don't know how he would have done in other roles (his IMDb page lists another movie but I never saw it), but I thought he was great as Patch.

I do not have attention deficit disor...Ooh, look at the bunny!

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[–] RussellDunn 10 years ago

Funny you should say that.
A few years after Carny was released, I read Stephen King's "The Stand" and I automatically pictured the antagonist(bad guy), Randall Flagg, as Robbie Robertson. When the book was made into a mini-series a decade later, I thought that Robertson should have been approached by the producers about playing Flagg. He would have been a better choice than Jamie Sheridan although by then he would have been almost too old for the part. Sheridan did a good job but he made the character a little to comical for my taste. Robertson's dark charisma would have been perfect.
There's talk about remaking "The Stand" as a three part motion picture like "TheLord of The Rings". Robertson is too old for the part but Robert Downey jr would be perfect.

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[–] zooymtoo 9 years ago

I saw this movie many years ago and what I remember most is Robbie Robertson. He really had a presence and seemed kind of a natural. Very sexy too..

I also often wondered the same thing myself... but in retrospect I guess music was his first love and priority...and acting is a slow process that's not as fun as it looks. He probably didn't think it was worth all that time waiting around to do a scene. Music is immediate.

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[–] mainecoon1995 9 years ago

Remembering the movie fondly, I watched it on YouTube a week ago. It was even better than I remember 30+ years ago.

I thought Robbie Robertson was totally believable, great chemistry with everyone. He had that affable demeanor, with an underlying "I will kill you if you cross me" undertone. Very good acting from a nonactor

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